What price is a man?

August 20, 2009 - Paul Giannamore

While the rest of the nation gets all flustered in the healthcare debate, I've got a more basic question about the whole value of human life thing.

Let's see if I understand this.

Plaxico Burress shoots himself in the leg and could be facing two years in prison. Donte Stallworth gets bombed, runs over a man, kills him, gets 30 days and would have returned to the Cleve Brownies this year if the NFL hadn't decided that maybe a year's suspension without pay was in order.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that people are all up in arms about Michael Vick who, after serving prison time and committing to a public service campaign about not being cruel to animals, is trying to prove he is worthy of a second chance?

Before y'all heat up your poison fingers, know that my little doggie, who has been pictured here, is bearing permanent scars from a near-fatal pit bull charge/attack earlier this summer.

I'd just like to understand. A crane operator is walking home from work when some drunken NFL star runs him over and kills him and that's worth 30 days. Another NFL star shoots HIMSELF and that's worth two years? And people want the head of the guy who was admittedly awful to dogs?

Excuse me. I think I have to walk outside. It's getting warm in this circus tent.